Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Kwesi Pratt Jnr

Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has questioned former Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, over her recent defense of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Ursula criticised elements within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for blaming Akufo-Addo for the party's electoral struggles in the 2024 election.

In a statement on her Facebook page, the outspoken former lawmaker expressed dismay over what she described as the vilification of the former president by some party supporters. She argued that these same individuals would have credited him had the party emerged victorious.

Owusu-Ekuful cited several financial contributions made by Akufo-Addo to support party activities.

Responding to Ursula on a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on May 13, 2025, Kwesi Pratt questioned whether Akufo-Addo truly had substantial financial resources, as Ursula claimed.

“Ursula Owusu has really spoken well, and she has written a lot. She said that during the eight years Akufo-Addo was president, he personally paid 127 MPs after the state had already paid them. Then that means Akufo-Addo was really sitting on money,” Pratt remarked.

“She added that even what Akufo-Addo was paying MPs was more than what the state was paying them. She said that whenever the party needed funds, Akufo-Addo personally provided them,” he added.

Pratt warned that such revelations could have unintended consequences for the party.

"What they are doing they are collapsing their party," he asserted.

In her statement, Owusu-Ekuful emphasized Akufo-Addo’s unwavering financial support for the NPP, stating that for eight years, he consistently funded party operations at all levels, sending monthly allowances to constituencies, regional branches, and the national office, while also topping up MPs' incomes beyond their official salaries.

“If after a lifetime of sacrifice for democracy, the rule of law, and building our political brand, we can look him in the face or call him all manner of names behind his back—he says no problem. He accepts all the blame,” she lamented, expressing concern over what she sees as growing ingratitude within the party.

She further defended the former President’s legacy, highlighting his achievements in maintaining a stable electricity supply, expanding access to education, creating jobs, and undertaking extensive road infrastructure projects.

Owusu-Ekuful ended with a rhetorical question, challenging her party members, “If we don’t appreciate the efforts of people like Akufo-Addo, is the NPP worth dying for?”

AM/KA

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